The Master Craftsman

 Back Cover

In 1917, Alma Pihl, a master craftsman in the House of Faberge, was charged to protect one of the greatest secrets in Russian history - an unknown Faberge Egg that Peter Karl Faberge secretly created to honor his divided allegiance to both the people of Russia and the Imperial tsar's family. When Alma and her husband escaped Russia for their native Finland in 1921, she took the secret with her, guarding her past connection to the Romanov family.

Three generations later, world-renowned treasure hunter Nick Laine is sick and fears the secret of the missing egg will die with him. With time running out, he entrusts the mission of retrieving the egg to his estranged daughter, Ava, who has little idea of the dangers she is about to face. As the stakes are raised, Ava is forced to declare her own allegiance - and the consequences are greater than she could have imagined.

Review

I felt like I was stepping into a National Treasure movie! This was quite the adventure story - or should I say, treasure hunt? I had heard of the Fabergé Eggs before, but the history Kelli Stuart fleshes out about Peter Karl Fabergé and the stories behind the famed eggs was beyond fascinating. Be sure to search the internet for photos of the discovered Eggs as they are absolutely breathtaking in beauty and detail. And while we have some Eggs today, there are some known to be lost. And off of this, the author begs the question, "What if there was another Egg?"

The Master Craftsman was an intriguing and thought-provoking story. And don't despair - this book is not just a history lesson about the Eggs.  It's an adventure story full of intrigue and danger with characters in the midst of relationships as complex as the Eggs themselves. An enjoyable read!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.